School & Position Summary

The mission of Brooks School is to provide the most meaningful educational experience our students will have in their lives. Established in 1926 in the town of North Andover, Brooks provides an all-gender, college preparatory program for 350 students on a 270-acre campus overlooking Lake Cochichewick. We strive to be a place where a diverse group of faculty and staff want to learn, grow, and do their best work to support all aspects of a Brooks student’s life, both in and out of the classroom. At Brooks, we recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status and other protected statuses. Our school thrives because of our faculty and staff’s hard work, initiative, dedication and compassion.

Brooks School is seeking a compassionate and collaborative-minded Associate Dean of Residential Life for the 2026-2027 academic year. The ideal candidate is a clear communicator who champions student voices and growth, makes community-informed decisions, and partners with various members of the school community, including parents, faculty/staff, trustees, vendors, and more. They must be a genuine “school person” who leads by example and chooses to engage in the many aspects of student life even outside their stated responsibilities.

The Associate Dean of Residential Life is responsible for all matters related to student life in the immersive, residential program, including day student integration. The ideal candidate will implement residential curriculum, chair Dorm Head and Residential Life meetings, assist in setting goals for the residential program and dormitory faculty, evaluate the residential student life program, in collaboration with the Dean of Student Life oversee the selection and training of student Dorm Prefects, and develop and implement programs that support the needs of our diverse student population.

The Associate Dean of Residential Life will work closely with the Student Life team, which consists of the Dean of Student Life, the Associate Dean of Community and Belonging, the Assistant Dean of Student Life, and the Administrative Coordinator for Academic and Student Affairs. The team works with faculty and staff to establish high standards for a holistic approach in supporting student life through educational programs, policies, and opportunities.

The Associate Dean of Residential Life should have exemplary attention to detail, a commitment to restorative justice practice, and strong organizational and communication skills. We especially welcome candidates skilled in culturally responsive educational practices dedicated to fostering inclusivity and creating a sense of belonging within our campus community.

Candidates with experience successfully coaching at the varsity level will be prioritized in this process.

 Major Responsibilities

The Associate Dean of Residential Life will:

• support and provide feedback to residential faculty in collaboration with dorm heads.
• chair the Honor Board as issues arise.
• facilitate Dorm Heads, dorm teams, and other evening residential life teams to discuss opportunities and concerns.
• create and implement residential life professional development for adults and training for student Dorm Prefects.
• communicate with the residential community regularly about the details of student life.
• collaborate frequently with the Health Center, Security, Housekeeping, Facilities, Food Service, Athletics, and Academic Office in service to student wellbeing.
• develop and implement an age-appropriate residential curriculum, in conjunction with the Dean of Student Life and Associate Dean of Community and Belonging, that supports students’ developmental needs for residential living.
• assist and support Dorm Heads with budgets, activities, student leadership, and student management, including residential life discipline.
• find inclusive ways to structure the day student experience.
• collaborate with the Assistant Dean of Student Life on planning and supervising evening and weekend student life activities.
• partner with the Advisor for International Student Support and Global Initiatives in coordinating orientation and cultural adaptation programming.
• coordinate move-in and move-out processes at the start and end of the year, as well as over major breaks.
• manage attendance, which includes elective (excused) and unexcused absences as well as daily tracking of attendance, tardies, classroom/Chapel behavior, and dress code in conjunction with the Dean of Student Life and the Dean of Academic Affairs.
• supervise, manage, and communicate about the room selection process, roommate conflict mediations, and room changes when necessary.
• assist the Dean of Student Life with all aspects of student conduct.
• be present in the Deans’ Den during the academic day when not occupied by other commitments
• engage in DEIB professional development and assist in forwarding the school’s commitment to becoming an anti-racist institution

Additionally, as a full-time administrative faculty member, the person in the Dean of Residential Life role is expected to:

• Teach one class and coach one season (or equivalent)
• Serve as an Administrator on Duty (in lieu of dorm duty) and live on campus
• Advise up to 7 students beginning in the second year

Skills, Qualifications, and Competencies

• Experience as a school leader in a role associated with student life, preferably in a boarding school environment
• Demonstrated ability to interact, build relationships with, and represent the school’s interests among various constituencies, including students, faculty, and parents, through:
  • Understanding of appropriate boundaries in working with adolescent students
  • Deep commitment to diversity and to cultivating an inclusive and equitable school culture
  • Strong communication skills, including one-on-one conversations, group facilitation, and writing.
  • Experience with healthy conflict resolution among students and adults
  • A sense of humor, warmth, and a willingness to bring joy to the work
  • Timely communication
  • Discretion and the ability to manage confidential and sensitive matters
  • Practiced patience, empathy, and flexibility
  • Excellent technology/computer skills, database experience strongly preferred; willingness and ability to learn additional applications as needed. Programs include: Google Suite, Blackbaud, and REACH
• Willingness to be present at school events and respond to student events/concerns outside of regular working hours.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

Compensation Range

• $75K – $85K

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Duties are normally performed in an indoor environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical demands include:

• Occasional lifting, bending and climbing stairs
• Frequent talking, listening, walking, sitting and standing
• Ability to perform multiple concurrent tasks and functions in a fast-paced working environment

Travel

This role does not require travel but travel for professional development is encouraged.

Application & Candidate Information

Brooks School believes that realizing our mission requires intentional work to build and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion for all members of our predominantly residential school. As such, we seek a diverse candidate pool that includes those who are traditionally underrepresented and less familiar with boarding school life.

All interested candidates should submit the following materials by email with attachments to Associate Head of School Ms. Nina Freeman (nfreeman@brooksschool.org).

Please include:

• A cover letter expressing why you are interested in Brooks and this opportunity
• A current resume
• Three professional references (including a current supervisor) and contact information; references will not be contacted without your permission.

EEO Statement

The school will make any offer of employment contingent upon a candidate being authorized to work in the United States, and successfully completing criminal offender record (CORI) and sexual offender record (SORI) background checks.

Brooks School does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, color, sexual orientation, disability or religion in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, employment policies, financial aid and loan programs, athletic programs and other school-administered programs and activities.